Feature Articles
Unpacking the Payment Card Industry's Latest Data Security Standard
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements and guidelines that apply to all businesses that accept credit card payments, and is designed to ensure the security of those transactions.
Compliance With State Age Verification Laws
During the past year, website operators have faced a slew of new state age verification laws entailing a variety of inconsistent compliance obligations.
Merchants in Spotlight With Visa's VIRP
By now, most merchants know about the Visa Integrity Risk Program (VIRP) rolled out in spring 2023. The program is designed to ensure that acquirers and their designated agents — payment facilitators, independent sales organizations and wallets — maintain proper controls and oversight to prevent illegal transactions from entering the Visa payment system.
How to Know When Hosting Upgrades Are Really Needed
I was reminded about an annoyingly common experience that often frustrates website owners: upgrades. Sometimes, an upgrade of physical system resources like CPU, RAM or storage really is required to solve a problem or improve performance… but how do you know you’re not just being upsold?
WIA Profile: Natasha Inamorata
Natasha Inamorata was just a kid when she first picked up a disposable camera. She quickly became enamored with it and continued to shoot with whatever equipment she could afford. In her teens, she saved enough money to purchase a digital Canon ELPH, began taking portraits of her friends, shot an entire wedding on a point-and-shoot camera and edited the photos with Picnik.
Collab Nation: Top Creators Share Best Practices for Fruitful Co-Shoots
One of the fastest ways for creators to gain new subscribers and buyers, not to mention monetize their existing fan base, is to collaborate with other creators. The extra star power can multiply potential earnings, broaden brand reach and boost a creator’s reputation in the community.
Bridging Generational Divides in Payment Preferences
While Baby Boomers and Gen Xers tend to be most comfortable with the traditional payment methods to which they are accustomed, like cash and credit cards, the younger cohorts — Millennials and Gen Z — have veered sharply toward digital-first payment solutions.
Legal and Business Safety for Creators at Trade Shows
As I write this, I am preparing to attend XBIZ Miami, which reminds me of attending my first trade show 20 years ago. Since then, I have met thousands of people from all over the world who were doing business — or seeking to do business — in the adult industry.
Adding AI to Your Company's Tech Toolbox
Artificial intelligence is all the rage. Not only is AI all over the headlines, it is also top of mind for many company leadership teams, who find themselves asking, “How can this new tool help our company?”
The Ins and Outs of IP Addresses: What Website Owners Should Know
Think about your home address, the place you live. It is unique. That’s important because when you decide to invite someone over, they will need directions to find you. It’s even more important if you want a lot of visitors.
AI Is Coming: A Look at What's Ahead and Its Implications
The AI era has dawned, and the impact of this technology is beginning to be felt across the adult industry. We are already seeing a plethora of content, synthetic interactions and customizable avatars enabled by artificial intelligence.
Navigating Fraud Prevention in Credit Card Transactions
In the digital age, credit card transactions are essential to global commerce, providing unmatched convenience for consumers and businesses alike. With this convenience, however, comes the risk of credit card fraud, which can result in considerable financial losses and harm brand reputation.
A Guide to Avoiding Scams in Hard Link Media Buying
‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” So cautionary wisdom reminds us, yet people still get scammed all the time. Fortunately, there are “red flags” you can watch for to help you identify scams and thereby avoid them.
The Dos and Don'ts of AI-Generated Content
AI is a hot topic. From automation to personal assistance to content generation, AI technology is already impacting our daily lives. Many industries, including adult, have had positive results using AI for customer support and marketing.
Strategic Upscaling of Non-4K Content
If content is king in adult, then technical quality is the throne upon which it sits. Technical quality drives customer acquisition and new sales, while cementing retention and long-term loyalty.
'Traffic Captain' Andy Wullmer Braves the High Seas as Spirited Exec
Wullmer networked and hobnobbed, gaining expertise in everything from ecommerce to SEO and traffic, making connections and over time rising through the ranks of several companies to become CEO of the mobile business arm of TrafficPartner.
To Cloud or Not to Cloud, That Is the Question
Let’s be honest. It just sounds way cooler to say your business is “in the cloud,” right? Buzzwords make everything sound chic and relevant. In fact, someone uninformed might even assume that any hosting that is not in the cloud is inferior. So what’s the truth?
Upcoming Visa Price Changes to Registration, Transaction Fees
Visa is updating its fee structure. Effective April 1, both the card brand’s initial nonrefundable application fee and annual renewal fee will increase from $500 to $950. Visa is also introducing a fee of 10 cents for each settled transaction, and 10 basis points — 0.1% — on the payment volume of certain merchant accounts.
Unpacking the New Digital Services Act
Do you hear the word “regulation” and get nervous? When it comes to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), you shouldn’t worry. If you’re complying with the most up-to-date card brand regulations, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
The Perils of Relying on ChatGPT for Legal Advice
It surprised me how many people admitted that they had used ChatGPT or similar services either to draft legal documents or to provide legal advice. “Surprised” is probably an understatement of my reaction to learning about this, as “horrified” more accurately describes my emotional response.